Dare County, North Carolina tornadoes

Checking live National Weather Service warnings for Dare County...

41confirmed tornadoes since NOAA records began in 1950 (the first here in 1952). Most recent: May 15, 2025, EF0. 2026 so far: 0 preliminary reports preliminary

Join the free alerts waiting list
Map

Every tornado path in the county

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025
Use two fingers to move the map
(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5Unrated

Each path is a straight line from where the tornado started to where it ended, which is all most NOAA records hold. Tap a path for its details.

Recent warnings

Recent warnings in Dare County

Loading warnings...

The record

At a glance

Total411950 to 2025
Per year0.5average since 1950
Peak monthJuly9 of 41
StrongestF3Sep 17, 1952
Deaths1whole paths, see note
Injuries22whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can extend beyond Dare County.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

90 Jan: 1Feb: 1Mar: 1Apr: 1May: 6Jun: 4Jul: 9Aug: 9Sep: 5Oct: 1Nov: 3Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

July is the peak month, with 9 of 41 tornadoes.

By time of day

60 12 AM: 0: 1: 23 AM: 2: 1: 06 AM: 2: 1: 29 AM: 2: 0: 412 PM: 6: 1: 33 PM: 3: 3: 16 PM: 4: 1: 19 PM: 0: 0: 112 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 12:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

40 1950: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 1: 21960: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01970: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 1: 01980: 0: 0: 2: 0: 0: 2: 2: 1: 1: 11990: 3: 4: 1: 1: 1: 0: 3: 0: 0: 02000: 0: 1: 1: 0: 1: 0: 1: 1: 0: 02010: 0: 1: 3: 0: 0: 1: 1: 0: 0: 02020: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 119501960197019801990200020102020

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones.

By rating

EF0
25
EF1
11
EF2
4
EF3
1

Ratings before February 2007 use the original F scale; the numbers line up with today's EF scale. Unknown means NOAA could not assign a rating.

The record

Notable tornadoes

Deadliest

F2, July 31, 1978

1 deaths, 4 injuries Strongest

F3, September 17, 1952

1 mile path Longest path

12 miles, F2

November 10, 1990, whole path Widest

440 yards, F2

March 31, 1987
Every tornado

All 41 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
May 15, 2025EF00.82 mi100 yd00
Sep 2, 2016EF00.07 mi25 yd03
May 11, 2015EF00.51 mi30 yd00
Aug 19, 2012EF00.01 mi20 yd00
Jul 30, 2012EF01 mi20 yd00
Jul 30, 2012EF00.5 mi20 yd00
Apr 16, 2011EF10.67 mi250 yd00
Jul 15, 2007EF00.1 mi10 yd00
Jun 14, 2006F00.1 mi25 yd00
Aug 14, 2004F10.2 mi30 yd00
Aug 26, 2002F00.1 mi50 yd00
May 28, 2001F00.5 mi50 yd00
Oct 8, 1996F00.3 mi50 yd00
Sep 17, 1996F00.3 mi50 yd01
Jan 19, 1996F00.3 mi50 yd00
Sep 22, 1994F00.2 mi23 yd01
May 19, 1993F00.7 mi30 yd00
Jul 6, 1992F00.2 mi20 yd00
Aug 18, 1991F10.1 mi20 yd00
Aug 18, 1991F10.1 mi20 yd00
Aug 18, 1991F10.1 mi20 yd00
Aug 18, 1991F10.1 mi20 yd00
Nov 10, 1990F212 mi40 yd01
May 29, 1990F10.5 mi50 yd01
Feb 10, 1990F01 mi50 yd00
Nearby

Nearby counties

Coming soon

Free tornado alerts for Dare County

We are building free email alerts for tornado warnings. Join the waiting list and we will email you once when they are ready. Until then, please rely on the National Weather Service and your phone's emergency alerts.

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025, and SPC preliminary reports for 2026. Page built October 13, 2026.